2001 was a great time for all who joined our 9 day trip to the island of Mallorca, Spain. Sunny skies, warm temperatures and tough riding made for a week of quality training!!             We were very excited to go to the first Wenzel training camp on Mallorca. Once we got the trip booked we were literally counting down the days. We would check the weather there on-line on a daily basis. We got travel books and looked at our world map daydreaming about what it would be like. At the same time we were a little nervous and uncertain as to what to expect. We both found ourselves wondering what we might have gotten ourselves into. Doubts about our riding abilities and fitness level started to crop up. Sherry even called Scott Saifer to ask about who was registered and what their abilities were. Of course, we had everyone else on the trip fantasized into being very elite racers. We would be the slugs who couldn't keep up. It would be terrible and humiliating. We couldn't have been more wrong! When we finally got to the aeroporte in Palma De Mallorca, Scott Saifer and Prebin, the massage therapist from Denmark, were there to greet us. They loaded up our bikes and gear and got us shuttled safely to our hotel. It was 10:00am and we were told that our first ride would be at 1:00pm. Brain dead with jet-lag and we're going out for a ride at 1:00pm? It was great! We felt far better getting out on our bikes than we did before riding. Cycling seems to be a good short-term treatment for jet-lag. We were surprised at the intensity and longevity of the jet-lag. We expected some jet-lag, but nothing like it actually was. We all felt shrouded in a fog for two full days. We've decided that we will go at least a day early in the future. On our first rides we were a little afraid of the traffic. Foreign country. New road rules we were unsure of. What are the laws anyway? Lots of crazy drivers. It was mostly perception. We quickly came to realize the traffic was orderly and the drivers were respectful of the bikes. At home we get lots of honks accompanied by certain gestures and "commentary." The only honking in Mallorca was to let us know a car was there. It was a very nice change! The riding and the routes were all quite nice. Routes varied from flat to mountainous and from city to country. We had some absolutely spectacular scenery riding the rolling hills along the Mediterranean coast. Too bad we were so focused on the bike and the road much of the time. Its so easy to forget to "stop and smell the roses." We will spend a little more time sniffing if we go to Mallorca again. Meeting Johnnie the mechanic, listening to his stories and having him care for our bikes was a highlight of our trip. Between René's hospitality and easy going charm, Johnnies wrenching and Prebin's massage we felt like pampered pros without any of the pressure to perform. What could be better than to be in a beautiful Mediterranean setting riding our bikes and being taken care of by some of the best in the business. We are blessed! Steve Hiebert & Sherry Berde St Paul, Minnesota